Woman raises awareness of heroin use after daughter’s death in Waterford

Ashley Peterson Ramsey, 24, of Waterford Township died of a drug overdose on Wednesday, and her mother, Bridget Peterson (left), wants to raise awareness about the dangers of heroin use. Photo submitted by Bridget Peterson

FYI

Visit gofundme.com/c1t1p0 to donate money to go into a savings account for Ashley Peterson Ramsey’s 4-year-old daughter, Jade, and to help cover funeral expenses. So far, more than $1,000 has been raised in the last three days. For help finding treatment for substance use and/or mental health problems, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). To join the local drug abuse awareness group, Bryan’s HOPE, call 248-410-4163 or send a letter to 3720 Elizabeth Lake Road, Waterford, 48328.

A Ferndale woman wants to raise awareness of the dangers of heroin use after her daughter died from a drug overdose last week.

Ashley Peterson Ramsey, 24, was found unconscious at her Waterford Township home on Wednesday, July 23. She was transported to McLaren Oakland hospital where doctors worked on her for more than an hour before they pronounced her dead around 2 p.m. The Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that she died from drug abuse but the manner is undeterminable.

Her mother, Bridget Peterson, said Ashley had suffered recently from back pain and taken Vicodin. Bridget believes her daughter then started taking heroin because it was cheaper.

“This is an epidemic that is going around. People start off taking Vicodin or other pain medications. … With opiates, your body builds up a tolerance and you need more and more for your back or neck not to hurt. And then it starts to get too expensive,” said Bridget.

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“When you get these (Vicodin) pills, you know what you’re taking. But when you buy packs of heroin, you don’t know what’s in it.”

Bridget wants people to know that “it only takes one time” of using heroin to die from it.

“(Heroin) is not something you want to mess with. … You need to find something else to deal with the pain and not something that could kill you,” she said.

Bridget said no one in their family or any of her friends knew she was using drugs.

“She still went to work everyday, paid her bills and always looked beautiful,” she said.

One sign Bridget says parents need to look for is if their child suddenly distances him or herself from the family.

Bridget said there’s only three options for people who start taking heroin — prison, death, or stop using it altogether. She said she wishes Ashley knew that her occasional drug use would affect so many people. In Oakland County, 59 deaths between 2010 and 2012 involved heroin use.

For Ashley, her 4-year-old daughter, Jade Arissa, will have to grow up without a mother. Her 17-year-old sister, Alyssa Irene, will no longer have her as a confidant. And Bridget said she will forever have to mourn the death of her first born child.

Bridget and the rest of Ashley’s friends and family would like for anyone who is using heroin or considering using, to “think long and hard about the pain you are causing everyone around you.”

“Everybody loved Ashley. It was standing room only at the Riverside Chapel Simpson-Modetz Funeral Home. Her passing was devastating to many,” said Bridget. “We did everything together. ... She was an awesome mom, an awesome daughter, an awesome friend and an awesome granddaughter.”

Bridget said Ashley, who graduated from Hazel Park High School in 2008, had “the biggest heart in the whole world.” Ashley donated old baby clothes to a friend who couldn’t afford necessities for her newborn baby, gave rides to fellow employees who didn’t have a vehicle, and during the winter, gave the coat off of her back to someone who didn’t have one.

“She was a very selfless person,” said Bridget. “I miss everything about her. She was my best friend. Life will not be the same without her.”

About the Author

Monica Drake also puts together the community sections, in print each Thursday. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University. Reach the author at monica.drake@oakpress.com
or follow Monica on Twitter: @monica_adele.